Sociology

Control theory explains in best way how the juvenile engage in delinquency. This theory asserts that the level of controls or restraints determines the juvenile engagement in delinquent behaviors. The direct controls, stake in conformity in terms of what the juvenile might lose in engaging in delinquent behaviors, beliefs that delinquency is wrong and self control level determine the juvenile engagement in delinquency (Gerald 2001)

What needs to be done to reduce the juvenile engagement in delinquency
James and Dawn (2005 p379-380), explains a model that can act as solution to reduce the juvenile tendency to engage in delinquent behaviors. Since family is the primary source of attachment, commitments as well as disciplinary controls associated with preventing delinquency, it may act as a buffer against deviant behaviors. The family should provide basic ties and commitments to the conventional order. The parent should create a motivation that will help juvenile conform to norms and appropriate behaviors.  The knowledge of motivations available to juvenile from the parents will act as control to the juvenile who desperately want to continue enjoying these motivations. Parent should provide a coercive function in the supervision and punishment against deviant behaviors. The juvenile who knows that the parents or conventional authority figure is keeping an eye on them will rarely engage in delinquent behaviors. Motivation to conform to norms as well as restraints against deviance should be emphasized by the parents and the conventional authority figure.

The parent-child attachment should be emphasized as one of the important factors directed at inhibiting delinquent behavior. Many juvenile will not afford to lose touch with their parents which may be caused by their involvement in delinquency. The relationship attachment will bring about the sensitivity to the child as far as the parents wishes and feelings are concerned. This sensitivity will result to form of social control.

On the other hand as claimed by Gerald (1980 p 81), family management skills should be employed in preventing juvenile engagement in delinquency. The family management skills should include noticing what the child is doing,  clearly stating the house rule, long term monitoring of the child behavior, executing sane punishments for child  transgressions,  providing  conformity reinforcement as well as negotiating disagreements so that conflicts and crises do not escalates. The direct controls may entail rules either from the school and parents as well as the governing authority.

Monitoring is another policy that can be used to control juvenile from engaging in delinquency. Direct monitoring will involve the monitoring of the juvenile directly by the parent or other conventional authority. Indirect control is where the parent or conventional authority will keep the tabs on what the juvenile is doing.  Another way to keep the juvenile from engaging in delinquency is sanctioning deviance. Parent and conventional authority should seek to impart beliefs that will control the juvenile from engaging in delinquency. 

Why control theory is better than strain theory and social leaning theory in explaining how juvenile behaviors are determined

Control theory explains the juvenile engagement in delinquency while factoring in the beliefs that have been built in the child and inherent characters such as self control. This theory also factors in the consideration by the juvenile about the implications of engaging in delinquency in terms of what will be lost. The engagement in delinquency by juvenile is likely to affect emotional attachments and anticipated investments.

On the other hand, the social learning theory assert that, the juvenile learn to engage in the delinquency from the rest of the society. Through association and exposure juvenile are taught delinquent behavior. The nature of the people the juvenile associate with greatly influences the juvenile tendency to engage in conforming or the delinquent behavior. The reinforcements and punishments to the juvenile delinquent behavior, the teaching of beliefs favorable to delinquency, and the provision of delinquency models by others to the juvenile are factors underlying the behavior of the juvenile. However this theory assumes inexistence of the ability of juvenile to make decisions. A child brought up in beliefs that delinquency is wrong may change as heshe grows up if there are no controls to make sure that heshe complies with the beliefs. Mostly, the likely to be bad relationship between the juvenile and the parentsconventional authority figure that will result when a child engage in crime, will usually influence the child behavior. Children usually fear any direct controls from their parents or teachers, such as punishments and will not dare engage in delinquency even the where society is corrupt.

Strain theory explanation that it is through strain or stress that children become upset and hence engaging in delinquent behaviors may not explain why children brought up by caring parents or through a luxurious life do engage in deviant behaviors. As it can be clearly illustrated in the case of Boys of Baraka, the Baraka school is an opportunity to boys from the poverty stricken Baltimore. The strict disciplinary program and comprehensive curriculum is direct control. The availability of teachers will act as a control in shaping the behavior of the lucky Baltimore boys (PBS 2006)